Summoned
1781 Words
The knock came at nine-thirty that evening.
Elena lifted her head from the hospital assistance form spread across the kitchen table.
She had spent the last hour filling in questions about Ethan's condition, her income, their rent, and the estimated cost of his surgery. The final page asked whether she had relatives who could contribute toward the treatment.
She had left that section blank.
Another knock sounded.
Elena pushed her chair back.
"Who is it?"
A man's voice came through the door.
"Miss Kyarshik?"
"Yes."
"I'm here on behalf of Mr. Dadik."
Elena stopped.
She crossed the apartment and looked through the peephole.
A man in a dark suit stood in the corridor. He held no folder or envelope. Through the narrow window beside the door, Elena could see a black sedan waiting near the entrance.
She didn't unlock the door.
"Which Mr. Dadik?"
"Adrian Dadik."
Her grip tightened around the handle.
"What does he want?"
"He asked me to bring you to Blackwood Tower."
"Why?"
"He'll explain when you arrive."
"That's not an answer."
"No, ma'am."
"Is this about the accusation at Blackwood Tower?"
"No."
"Am I being sued?"
"No."
"Then why would the CEO send a car to my apartment at night?"
"I wasn't given an explanation."
"You're his driver."
"Yes."
"Then you must know why you're here."
"I was told to collect you."
Elena stepped away from the door.
"What happens if I refuse?"
"I leave."
"That's all?"
"Yes."
She returned to the kitchen.
Ethan needed surgery.
She had spent the afternoon searching for money after losing her job. She had called two charities, contacted a former coworker, and checked the small amount left in her account.
None of it came close.
Now Adrian Dadik had sent a car.
She looked at the hospital form.
The timing bothered her.
Elena picked up her phone and opened Ethan's contact.
She considered calling him.
He was still at the hospital. He would ask where she was going. He would ask why. Then he would worry.
She locked the screen.
Five minutes later, she opened the door.
"I'll come."
The driver stepped aside.
"Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet."
He said nothing.
Elena locked her apartment and followed him downstairs.
The black sedan waited beside the curb.
She stopped before getting inside.
"Blackwood Tower?"
"Yes."
"How long will I be there?"
"I don't know."
"Does Adrian expect me to stay?"
"I don't know."
Elena studied his face.
He gave her nothing.
She entered the back seat.
The driver closed the door and walked around to the front.
The car pulled away.
Elena kept her handbag on her lap.
The city moved past the window in streaks of white and red. Familiar streets gave way to wider roads and taller buildings.
She checked her phone.
No new messages.
That should have reassured her.
It didn't.
"Does Mr. Dadik know I was fired?" she asked.
"Yes."
"Did he order it?"
"No."
Elena looked toward the front.
The answer had come too quickly.
She turned back to the window.
She had worked at Blackwood Tower for three years.
She had cleaned offices after executives left.
She had learned which conference rooms needed extra attention and which assistants wanted the floors polished before seven in the morning.
She had never met Adrian Dadik.
Not properly.
Tonight, he had sent a car to her apartment.
The sedan entered the underground entrance of Blackwood Tower.
Security opened the barrier before the car stopped.
Elena noticed the cameras mounted above the entrance.
The driver parked beside a private elevator.
He stepped out and opened her door.
"Mr. Dadik is expecting you."
Elena looked at the elevator.
"Which floor?"
"Forty-four."
She almost laughed.
She had spent years working below this floor.
She had never been allowed near it.
The driver opened the elevator.
Elena stepped inside.
The doors closed.
The numbers changed above her.
Thirty.
Thirty-five.
Forty.
She shifted her handbag against her side.
Forty-one.
Forty-two.
Forty-three.
The elevator stopped.
Forty-four.
The doors opened.
A quiet hallway stretched ahead.
Adrian Dadik stood near the far end.
Elena recognized him from the photographs on the company website.
The photographs had made him look polished.
They had not captured the severity of his expression.
He wore a dark shirt with the sleeves buttoned at his wrists. His posture was straight. His face gave away nothing.
He looked at her.
"Ms. Kyarshik."
"Mr. Dadik."
The elevator doors closed behind her.
Elena glanced at them.
The driver was gone.
She looked back at Adrian.
"Why am I here?"
"Come inside."
"I'd prefer an answer first."
"You'll get one."
"When?"
"Inside."
Elena didn't move.
Adrian waited.
She finally walked toward him.
He turned and entered the penthouse.
Elena followed.
The room was larger than her entire apartment.
A long desk stood near the windows. Shelves covered one wall. A black leather sofa faced a low glass table. Beyond the windows, the city stretched beneath them.
No assistants.
No security officers.
No staff.
Only Adrian.
He walked toward the desk.
"Sit."
Elena remained standing.
"I'd rather know why I'm here."
"You were fired this morning."
"Yes."
"You were accused of taking confidential information."
"Yes."
"Do you believe you did anything wrong?"
"No."
"Neither do I."
Elena frowned.
"Then why didn't you stop them?"
"I wasn't in the room when the decision was made."
"You're the CEO."
"I don't attend every termination meeting."
"Did you know about it before it happened?"
"Yes."
"How long?"
"Long enough."
Elena folded her arms.
"That's not very specific."
"I wasn't trying to be."
She studied him.
His answers were short.
Controlled.
He never seemed to search for words.
"Why did you bring me here?"
Adrian picked up a folder.
"Your brother."
Elena's posture changed.
"What about him?"
"Ethan Kyarshik."
Her stomach tightened.
"How do you know his name?"
"He's sixteen."
Elena stared at him.
"He has a congenital heart condition."
"Who told you?"
"I have access to information concerning my company."
"I'm not asking about the company."
Adrian opened the folder.
"You've been paying for his treatment yourself."
"That's private."
"You left university to support him."
Elena's fingers tightened around her handbag.
"How much did you investigate?"
"Enough."
"Why?"
"I wanted to understand your circumstances."
"My circumstances?"
"Your employment history. Your financial situation. Your family."
"Why would my family matter to you?"
"Your father worked for Blackwood Tower."
Elena went still.
"Robert Kyarshik."
The name landed harder than she expected.
Adrian continued.
"Financial fraud conviction. Eleven years ago."
"Don't."
"You left university after his death."
"I said don't."
He closed the folder.
Elena looked toward the elevator.
She had come here expecting legal trouble.
Maybe she had been wrong.
Maybe Adrian had brought her here because he knew exactly how desperate she was.
She turned back.
"If this meeting is about my father, say what you want."
"It isn't."
"Then why mention him?"
"Because his history explains yours."
"You don't know anything about me."
"I know you became responsible for your brother when you were young."
Elena's voice sharpened.
"Stop investigating my life."
Adrian didn't react.
"Your brother needs surgery."
Her anger gave way to concern.
"Yes."
"Within four weeks."
"Yes."
"The cost is beyond what you can afford."
Elena stared at him.
"You know about the surgery."
"Yes."
"How?"
"I have my sources."
"At the hospital?"
"I didn't say that."
"Then where?"
Adrian ignored the question.
"You lost your job today."
"I'll find another."
"Within four weeks?"
"I'll do what I have to do."
"Your savings aren't enough."
"I know."
"You've already applied for assistance."
Elena's head lifted.
"How do you know that?"
"I know."
"Do you monitor every employee?"
"Only when I need information."
"I'm not your employee anymore."
"No."
He closed the folder.
"You're not."
Elena moved toward the elevator.
"Then this conversation is over."
"Ms. Kyarshik."
She stopped.
"What?"
"Do you believe your termination was connected to what happened on the executive floor last night?"
Elena kept her face still.
"I don't know."
"You were there."
"I was working."
"You were alone on the floor."
"I was cleaning."
"After the board meeting?"
"Yes."
"Did you see anyone?"
"I saw people leaving."
"Did you hear anything?"
Elena looked at him.
"People talk in offices."
"That wasn't my question."
"I don't know what you're asking."
Adrian studied her.
Then he opened the folder again.
Elena saw a photograph inside.
A corridor.
The executive floor.
Her stomach tightened.
"Is that security footage?"
"Yes."
"Of me?"
"Partly."
"What do you want from it?"
"I want the truth."
"I don't have anything to tell you."
"Everyone has something to tell."
She kept quiet.
Adrian placed the photograph back inside the folder.
"Your employee badge was found on the executive floor."
Elena's thoughts raced.
She had dropped it while escaping.
"That doesn't prove I stole anything."
"No."
"Then why mention it?"
"Because whoever accused you wanted the badge found."
Elena stared at him.
"You're saying the accusation was planned?"
"I'm saying the evidence against you is convenient."
She didn't know whether to believe him.
He had summoned her.
He had investigated her.
He knew about Ethan.
He knew about her father.
Now he was telling her he didn't believe the accusation.
"Why are you helping me?"
"I'm not."
"Then what is this?"
"An assessment."
"Of what?"
"Whether you're useful to me."
Elena gave a short, disbelieving laugh.
"You bring me here, question me about my family, tell me you know my finances, and call me useful?"
"Yes."
"That's insulting."
"It's accurate."
She walked toward the elevator again.
Adrian didn't stop her.
She pressed the call button.
Nothing happened.
She looked at him.
"Why isn't it opening?"
"It requires my authorization."
Elena turned fully toward him.
"Then let me leave."
"I will."
"When?"
"When we're finished."
She stared at him.
"What do you want?"
Adrian walked toward the desk.
He opened another folder.
"Your father was convicted eleven years ago."
"I know."
"You've never accepted the conviction."
Elena said nothing.
"You've spent years working to keep your brother alive while wondering whether your father was framed."
Her voice became quiet.
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because you need money."
She looked at him.
"Yes."
"You need enough money to pay for Ethan's surgery."
"Yes."
"I can provide it."
Elena stopped.
"All of it?"
"All of it."
She searched his face.
"Why?"
"I need something in return."
There it was.
The price.
Elena's fingers tightened around her handbag.
"What?"
Adrian looked at her.
"You'll find out."
"Now."
"You're not leaving until you hear me."
She stared at him.
He moved toward the table and pulled out a chair.
"I have a proposal, Ms. Kyarshik."
He pointed to the chair opposite him.
"Sit down."
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